ERIC ED391992: Violence among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults in Maine: Part I.

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ED 391 992

CG 026 717

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Violence among Children, Adolescents, and Young
Adults in Maine: Part I •

Maine State Dept, of Human Services, Augusta.

Mar 94

MCH‘“015‘-10A72006; MCH-015-10A-2106

44p.; For ”Part II — Recommendations**, see CG 026

808.

Department of Human Services, Division of Maternal ^
Child Health, State House Station //ll. Augusta, ME
04333 (l imited avai lahi 1 i
Reports ~ Evaluat i ve/Feas i

MF01/PC02 Plus Postage.

Adolescents; Aggression; Ant'i^ocj.al Behavior;
Children; Crime; *Crime Prevention; *Data Collection;
Del inquency; Elementary Secondary Education;
’^Incidence; Information Needs; State Action; State
Legislation; State Programs; ^Statewide Planning;
Victims of Crime; ^Violence; Young Adults; Youth
Problems
*Maine

ABSTRACT

Teens and young adults in Maine are at greatest risk
for being either the offender or the victim of violence. At present,
prevention activities in Maine are limited and fragmented. This
document marks the beginning of a study of incidence and impact of
violence among Maine y<^uth. The process involved in conducting this
was s ign i f i cant ly hampeted by the absence of adequate data to
describe the problem. Data collection is a necessary first step in
the attempt to red -e youth violence in Maine. Broad recommendations
to guide the state in addressing youth violence prevention are; (1)
designate a lead agency responsible for convening an
interdepartmental task force to' more thoroughly study the causes,
impact and solutions to violence among Maine youth; (2) require
systematic collection of data, to document inc idence and impact of
yO''th violence; (3) require state agencies to review their policies,
regulations and procedures to assure that these policies protect and
strengthen families; and (4) enact legislative measures that will
reduce the risk of childhood death and injury from violence.
Extensive statistics, surveys and interviews provide currently
avai lable data. Appendices include: leading causes of child death;
legislative resolve; and other Maine studies. (JBJ)

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* Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made

* from the original document .

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S767 1 7

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Violence Among Children,
Adolescents, and Young
Adults in Maine

PARTI

February 1994

Presented to;

The Joint Standing Conunittee on
Human Resources and the Executive Director
of the Legislative Council

Presented by:

The Department of Human Services,

Bureau of Health, Maternal and Chilld Health

uc

jdU'MI ,1. .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Executive Summary 1

Background 4

Introduction 6

Incidence of Youth Violence in Maine 12

- Statistics 1 3

- Surveys 22

Interviews 27

Footnotes 33

Appendix

- Leading Causes of Child Death 35

- Legislative Resolve 36

- Other Maine Studies 38

r

For additional copies please contact
Department of Human Services
Division of Maternal & Child Health , ,

State House Station #11 j

Augusta, Maine 04333

Tel: 207-287-3311 or 1-800-698-3624

Parable

There was a man who stationed himself at the bottom of a waterfall. He saw
above him children tumbling over the edge, being bruised, maimed, and
killed on their way down. The man devoted his life to medically treating these
children after their fall. In fact, he even got his community to raise money to build
a hospital at the bottom of the waterfall for injured children. He learned that some
of these children had been pushed over the edge, so he got his law enforcement
agency to seek out these perpetrators, and he got the taxpayers to build a new
courthouse and prison at the bottom of the waterfall for the offenders. Finally,
along came another man who said, "Why don't you just go up to the top of the
.i/aterfall and put up a sign saying 'DANGER - DON'T SWIM NEAR HERE' or teach
the children at the top to stay away from the edge?" The man replied, "1 don't
have time because 1 have to treat these children who have already fallen. And
besides, that would cost money."

From; Kenneth Dodge, Ph.D., John F. Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University

® 1990, Illustration by Bonnie Acker

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In April 1992, a 15 year old boy from Saco killed a man by hitting
him with a baseball bat; in February 1993, at a Lake Region school,
outbreaks of violence sparked by racism caused increased concern
about discipline and loss of control; in December 1993, Portland police
linked a stabbing with a gang dispute; and a Lewiston youth plead
guilty to an October shooting that wounded three individuals.

All one needs to do is read the headlines in Maine newspapers to
realize that we are not immune to the escalation of violent acts
committed by children, teens and young adults. Teens and young
adults are at greatest risk for being either the offender or the victim of
violence. This growing problem threatens the health and safety of our
next generation. It is perceived that juvenile offenders are younger,
they are committing more serious crimes, and there is more group
violence. There is a growing feeling among Maine professionals that
action mast be taken before things get worse. According to Dr. Lani
Graham, Director of Maine's Bureau of Health, "We didn't wait until
Maine had as many cases of AIDS as New York to organize a campaign
to prevent the spread of AIDS in our State. Violence prevention needs
to be addressed now; the health consequences of violence are
enormous."

The literature suggests that the causes and effects of violence in our
society are complex and interrelated. Significant contributors to
violence include poverty, unemployment, racism, substance abuse,
availability of guns, inadequate or abusive parenting, adult models of
violent problem-solving behavior, and frequent exposure to violence
through the media. As social programs have been cut and the
economy has declined over the past decade, violence in homes,
schools, and communities across the nation, and in Maine, appears to
have worsened.

In 1989, 18.5% of Maine's children were living in poverty. This is
an increase from 15.3% in 1985.’ It is estimated that poverty rates in
Maine have increased by 30% since 1980.^ The rate of child deaths
from firearms increased by 22% from 1980 to 1990.^ Firearms have

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replaced motor vehicles as the leading cause of injury death in six
states. In Maine, we are seeing a similar phep'^menon; deaths from
motor vehicle crashes have been declining while deaths from firearms
are definitely on the rise. The largest increase was due to suicides;
about two-thirds of child firearm deaths are suicides.^ The commission
of hate crimes in Maine in recent years has prompted the Maine
Attorney General's Office to launch a statewide educational campaign
geared towards schools.

Violence among youth is not random, uncontrollable, or inevitable.
Many factors, individual and societal, contribute to an individual's
propensity to resort to violence, and many of these factors are within
our power to change. Increasingly, many have come to realize that the
problems we face must be addressed by all of society. No one
organization can solve this problem alone. Successful preventive
efforts require the commitment, cooperation, and coordination of
resources from both the public and private sectors. At present,
prevention activities in Maine are limited and fragmented. To arrest the
spread of violence before more children, teens and young adults are
lost, we must set effective policies, coordinate our efforts, and spend
our resources wisely. Informed, comprehensive public policy designed
to reduce and prevent violence is needed at all levels of government.

This document marks the beginning of a study of the incidence and
impact of violence among Maine youth. The process involved in
conducting this study was significantly hampered by the absence of
adequate data to describe the problem. If we are to earnestly attempt
to reduce youth violence in our State, consistent and ongoing data
collection is a necessary first step. Broad recommendations to guide
the state in addressing youth violence prevention are listed on the next
page. Part Two of this study will elaborate on specific steps that could
be pursued, including recommendations for Legislative action,

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION

■ Designate a lead agency responsible for convening an
interdepartmental task force to more thoroughly study the causes,
impact and solutions to violence among youth in Maine. The task
force should identify data needs and data sources and make
recommendations to the Legislature on the design of a uniform data
collection system.

■ Require systematic collection of data, based on task force
recommendations, to begin in calendar year 1995, to document the
incidence and impact of youth violence. These data should also be
used to evaluate the success of interventions.

■ Require state agencies to review their policies, regulations and
procedures to assure that these policies protect and strengthen
families.

■ Enact legislative measures that will reduce the risk of childhood
death and injury from violence.

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BACKGROUND

The 1 1 6th Maine State Legislature passed a Resolve to study the
extent of the problem of violence among children, teens, and young
adults in the State (H.P. 927 - L.D. 1 250). The Department of Human
Services, Bureau of Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health was
charged to conduct the study in collaboration with the Department of
Corrections, the Office of Substance Abuse, and the Bureau of Children
with Special Needs. The Resolve required that recommendations be
made to the Joint Standing Committee on Human Resources and the
Executive Director of the Legislative Council outlining steps to reduce
the incidence and impact of violence among children, youth, and young
adults.

In response to the Resolve, the Division of Maternal and Child Health
directed the study from August 1993 through February 1994. This
report describes available data, includes findings from current literature,
reports the results of written surveys conducted with professionals and
young people and explores opinions from in-depth interviews with
professionals working with youth. Little work was done to determine
the financial burden of youth violence. It is generally accepted,
however, that the costs of treatment far exceed the costs of
prevention.

A committee comprised of representatives from multiple agencies
was assembled to conduct this study. The committee met regularly to
guide its direction and development. This report is a collective effort
on the part of the Bureau of Health, Division of Maternal and Child
Health (staff Cheryl DiCara, DeEtte Hall and Zsolt Koppanyi, MD) and
the following individuals:

■ Roxy Hennings and Bob Pendleton, Department of Corrections

■ Marlene McMullen-Pelsor, Office of Substance Abuse

■ Bob Durgan and Jim Harrod, Bureau of Children with Special
Needs

■ Ann Sheehan and Dana Hall, Bureau of Child and Family Services

■ Christine Bartlett and Tom Harvey, Department of Education

■ Sylvia Lund, Interdepartmental Council

■ Captain Charles Love, Department of Public Safety

■ Christine Zukas-Lessard, Bureau of Medical Services

Technical assistance was provided by staff of the Margaret Chase
Smith Center for Public Policy who assumed major roles in conducting
telephone interviews, drafting the report and analyzing Maine data.
Suzanne Hart of the Edmund M. Muskie Institute conducted and
analyzed a survey of professionals for the Division of Maternal and
Child Health. Theresa Kerchner conducted a thorough review of the
literature. The Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics assisted
with the analysis of data and produced the statistical charts for the
report. Illustrations were contributed by Bonnie Acker, an artist who
lives in Burlington, Vermont.

This report would not have besn possible without contributions from
many other individuals too numerous to list here. To all those who
consented to be interviewed, those who helped administer surveys, to
the many individuals we called, and especially to our staff, we extend
thanks.

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INTRODUCTION

Contributing factors:

Violence is a multifaceted and deep-seated problem. In researching
the literature, theories describing causes of violence ranged from
biological to environmental. Violence is intimately intertwined with
many major social problems for which there are no simple solutions.

For the purpose of this report, violence was defined as INTENTIONAL
PHYSICAL ACTS COMMITTED BY YOUTH, WITH OR WITHOUT THE
USE OF WEAPONS, WHICH RESULT IN PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH
TO SELF OR TO ANOTHER PERSON. Although child abuse and neglect
and domestic violence are certainly factors in youth violence, the focus
of this report is interpersonal and self-inflicted violence in which
children, teens, or young adults are the offenders.

It is difficult to separate domestic violence from interpersonal
violence. There is a strong relationship between them. All too often
those individuals affected by domestic violence also experience
interpersonal violence in their lives. The same societal attitude which
tolerates violence in society also tolerates violence within the home.'^

Most studies on violence described in the literature focused on urban
areas. Little mention is given to rural areas except for noting a
correlation between isolation and violence. The nature of violence in
rural areas is an area deserving of further study.

The United States ranks first among the industrialized nations in the
rate of violence related-deaths.^ Americans embrace violence as part
of our culture. We glorify interpersonal violence and aggression in our
movies and in our sports. Our toy stores are stocked with guns and
they are coveted by children.® Violence is seen as an acceptable way
to solve disputes. All these factors together promote violence
throughout society. Young males seem more vulnerable to these
messages than any other group of individuals.^

Experts in the field of violence prevention have pointed to a variety
of factors that contribute to the violence found in our society. The
Amer'can Psychological Association's report "Violence and Youth:

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Psychology's Response" identifies a child's history of previous violence
as the predominant predictor of that child's involvement In violence.
Criminal offenders frequently have a history of experiences related to
rejection, broken homes, brutality, family discord, severe deprivation,
or instability. The witnessing of acts of violence in the home,
inconsistent and physically abusive disciplinary techniques, and
parental rejection of the child are all documented as contributors to
aggressive behaviors. ®

The literature is replete with references pointing to poverty as one of
the core elements of violence. A correlation between poverty and
violence is well documented in the literature. Poverty not only affects
relationships within the family but also affects the community. In
communities where poverty is prevalent there is often little support for
children. In these communities not only families but also schools lack
the resources to address the needs of children. Unemployment
damages the self-esteem of parents and can lead to family disruption.
The disintegration of families often results in poverty with excessive
burdens placed on women who are single parents. Children without
supportive families and without positive adult male role models may
turn to gangs or antisocial groups of teens to provide each other with
support and recognition.® "Isolation is a killer. We must anchor all
children with people who care, give them responsibilities for others,
harness their energies to help solve community problems, and
communicate to them that they are needed and valued, every one of
them."®

The problem of violence, however, transcends socioeconomic
boundaries. No social group in our society is invulnerable. Other
frequently cited causes of violence are lack of skills to handle conflict
without violence, easy access to firearms, violence in the media, and
the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Inherited factors, biological factors
(e.g. fetal and birth trauma or head injuries) and mental illness are also
important factors to be considered.®

In 1990, handguns were used to kill 87 people in Japan, 68 in
Canada, 22 in Great Britain, 10 in Australia, and 10,567 in the United
States.® It Is relatively simple for youth to obtain firearms. In a survey
conducted by Louis Harris Research Inc., in July 1993, 59% of
students from 96 middle schools and high schools across the country

said they could quickly obtain a handgun. There is widespread
ownership of guns, with an estimated 40-50% of households in the
nation owning guns. Half of these are handguns. The increased
availability of handguns has made violence more deadly than ever
before.^

The use of alcohol and drugs play a significant role in violence but
this is not the root of the problem.’ Alcohol appears to dim inhibitions;
drug use clouds judgement; their use is known to increase the
likelihood of violence. In about 65% of homicides, the offender and/or
the victim had been drinking. In about 55% of assaults in the home,
alcohol was a factor.® In addition, certain illicit drugs are strongly
associated with aggressive behavior.’ Among both young people and
adults, violence often occurs in places where alcohol is consumed.

Television and the movie industry also bear a heavy responsibility for
glorifying violence.’ In 1982, a National Institute of Mental Health
study of the literature documented the connection between media
violence and aggression in children. The increase in the rate of
suicides has also been correlated with m.edia violence. Violence is
depicted as normal and painless. The Children's Defense Fund
estimates that children watch about 21 hours of television per week.’^
A( cording to the National Institute of Mental Health, 80.3% of TV
shows contain violent acts and a typical program shows 5.2 violent
acts per show.’’

There are populations who are particularly vulnerable to violence.
Girls and young women, gay and lesbian youth, and those with
disabilities are at higher risk due to biases, discriminatory behaviors,
and inequalities of power in our society.®

Research has shown that males and females are both at risk for
suicide; however, as boys generally choose guns rather than a less
effective method, they are more often successful in their attempts.

This trend is changing as more females select guns as their method of
suicide. Adolescent suicide is frequently referred to as a permanent
solution to a temporary problem. When teens feel their primary needs
of security, achievement, trust, and friendship are not met, a sense of
overwhelming powerlessness may result. Suicide may seem the only
way out of their pain. It is normal for adolescents to experience major

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fluctuations in their emotions. The combination of this developmental
stage and easy access to firearms has too often resulted in suicide
among teens. It is believed that the primary means of preventing
suicide is the presence of a supporting, caring person who is able to
connect with the youth. Decreasing access to firearms in the home
can also be an important factor in preventing youth suicide.

Possible strategies for prevention:

Just as the contributing factors to the problem of violence are
extensive and varied, so must be the solutions to the problem. The
literature strongly suggests that a public health approach to this
problem be taken, similar to national campaigns against drunken driving
and smoking. All facets of our social system including health,
education, criminal justice, and social services must be involved.^ We
must investigate a broad spectrum of solutions from changing societal
attitudes toward violence to more specific approaches such as
beginning conflict resolution programs in our local schools.

It is less costly to society to prevent violence from happening than it
is to treat or punish offenders of violence after the fact. Increasingly,
we have come to realize that the problems must be approached at all
levels In society. Successful preventive efforts require the
commitment, cooperation, and coordination of multiple state and local
resources.

Strategies for home, school and community:

In order to avoid violence stemming from biological causes (e.g. fetal
alcohol syndrome, head trauma), we must assure appropriate perinatal
care for all women, promote adequate health care for women and
children, and encourage programs which prevent injury. ®

Some promising work has been done by David Hawkins and others
to identify the protective factors that foster resiliency in children.^®
Studies show that positive school experiences can have a major impact
on a child's resilience. Positive early school experiences and nurturing
relationships with teachers contribute to a child's ability to cope with
stress and trauma.’'^ Recapturing a sense of community is
imperative. Children need a sense of belonging, to feel connected.

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and a place where people are concerned about them. Communities
must support parents in raising children. The American Psychological
Association recommends primary prevention programs which assist
parents in improving their ability to parent such as home visiting
programs and parenting skills training. Programs which institute non-
violent standards of behavior have proven successful. For example.
Central Park East Secondary School in East Harlem began an
anti-violence program. Their rules simply stated that there was to be
no fighting, not even as a game. There was to be no threat of fighting,
and in the event that someone broke a rule, no fighting back either on
or off school grounds. The rules were clear and consistently enforced.
The program was found to change the attitude of the students. It was
reported that students "do not accept violence; students feel safe".^^

School-based prevention programs have been shown to reduce at-
risk behavior.® Teaching conflict resolution skills to students has been
found to be effective. Between 66-78% of teachers reported that
students' behavior improved after the Resolving Conflict Creatively
program began in New York schools.^® At a minimum, we must teach
children to deal with aggression and violence.^®

Attorney General Janet Reno states that we must look beyond gun
control and prisons to address this problem. She says we must make
sure parents are prepared to be parents, we must address domestic
violence, we must intervene through our criminal justice and medical
institutions, and we must encourage school programs that "teach
children how to resolve conflicts peacefully without resorting to fists or
knives or guns."’’

Components of a successful program:

Several authors identified specific ingredients that make prevention
programs successful. The importance of evaluation cannot be
overemphasized. Information gained from evaluating program
interventions is essential to determining the success or failure of the
interventions. Through evaluation the following have been found to
positively impact the success of programs:

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At least one responsible adult is connected with the child
and is attentive to his/her needs.

Programs are community based with collaboration among
l^^^community including the family, school, and agencies.

Families, schools, peers and organizations are empowered to
provide value-based, healthy and nurturing environments for
all youth.

Problems are identified and interventions made early .

Basic cognitive and social skills such as refusal skills and
conflict resolution are taught to all children.

There are appropriate staff development opportunities for
those responsible for programs.’®

Peers are engaged in the interventions.’®

Clear expectations are set and consistently enforced.

INCIDENCE OF YOUTH VIOLENCE

IN MAINE

^ Meaningful statistical information on the incidence of interpersonal

and self-inflicted violence among Maine youth is limited. This section
will elaborate on what is known, however, it must be emphasized that
this is only a small part of the story. For the purposes of this study,
the following data sources were consulted: trauma registry reports;
uniform crime arrest data and reports; vital statistics mortality data;
hospital discharge data; census data; Attorney General's Office hate
crime data; mental health program data; Maine Pregnancy Risk
Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS); sexual assault crisis center
data; and data from state-specific studies on juvenile offenders, mental
health clients, high risk students and homeless youth. In addition, a
survey of 5^2 helping professionals, in-depth interviews of 26
professionals, and three surveys of 2800 youths were included in this
study. The survey and interview data are based on the reported
knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of respondents and are therefore
most useful in describing the impact of youth violence in Maine.

There are data to describe deaths from violence and we can use
these data to make comparisons to national mortality rates. Deaths
from violence are only the tip of the iceberg; however, it is extremely
difficult to describe the incidence of violence that does not result in
death.

Data from hospital discharges are not useful in describing the
occurrence of violence among Maine youth; less than half of these data
are coded to indicate the reason for an individual's hospitalization.
Uniform Crime Report data are limited in the following ways: the data
count arrests, not convictions; not every youth is reported or caught;
the numbers include multiple offences; and the data indicate only the
age and sex of the offender and not of the victim.

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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DEATH
AMONG MAINE CHILDREN?

In 1992, approximately 62% of

1-19 were due to injuries.
Injuries take a higher toll on

adolescents than any other age
group; 81 % of total deaths to
15-19 year olds from 1 989
- 1 992 were from injuries. The
overall death rate for 1 - 14
year olds in Maine declined
slightly from 1980 to 1992.

The injury death rates of Maine children between the
ages of 1 - 4 and 15-24 exceed national rates.

Sourco of Data: Maine and National Vital Records, 1990

Injuries are the leading cause of
death for children.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DEATH
AMONG MAINE CHILDREN AGE 1-19?

deaths to Maine children ages

total death rate

L'NIN'TEN'TICNAL INwURIES. rate per ico.ocd

50

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The leading cause of injury death in 1992 was motor-vehicle related,
but suicide was the second leading cause of death for 1 5 - 19 year
olds and the second leading cause of death for 10 - 14 year olds (tied
with cancer). The rate of suicide deaths for young people in Maine has
been on the rise. The suicide death rate for 15-19 year olds
increased from 9 per 1 00,000 in 1 980 to a rate of 1 4 per 1 00,000 in
1992. A look at the 1 5-24 age group reveals a Maine suicide death
rate of 15.49 per 100,000 as compared to national rate of 13.2 per
100,000 in 1990.

SU'CiDES: RATE PER 100.000

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 10 20

Source of Data: Maine and National Vital Records, 1990

Homicide deaths are less of a concern for Maine youth. Homicide
among Maine youth is well below the national average. In 1992, there
were no homicide deaths among 15-19 year olds. The national death
rate for 1 5 - 24 year olds from homicide was 19.9 per 100,000 in
1990, the Maine rate for the same period was 2.86 per 100,000. In
the four year period from 1 988 - 1 991 , 4 males and 2 females
between the ages of 1 5 - 19 died as a result of homicide in Maine.

A review of child deaths
involving firearms from 1980 -
1992 reveals a disturbing trend.
The largest increase in child
firearm deaths was suicides,
accounting for about two-thirds
of firearm deaths. For more on
the leading causes of child
injury death in Maine, see the
appendix.

W-A’ ■£ the C' TiREA^V related DEA>S

AVCSG children age 0-15 BY CtJSf
1980 - 1992

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The number of child deaths from fires set by children is another area
of concern. Again, lack of appropriate data collection is a major barrier
to describing the extent of this problem. In the five years from 1989 -
1993, 13 children died in fires they or another child set (Fire

Marshalls' Office Data). In the 1 3 year period from 1 980 - 1 992, 1137
juveniles were arrested for arson, an average of 87 per year.

WHAT ABOUT INJURIES THAT DO NOT
RESULT IN DEATH?

SeSf-lnflicted Injuries

A Maine Department of Education survey of youth risk behaviors in
1993 found that 1 1 % of teens responding had actually attempted
suicide in the past year and that 4% had injured themselves seriously
enough to require medical attention.

Hospital discharge data for the
four years from 1 988 - 1991,
with only 40% of the records
coded to indicate cause of injury,
counted more than 500 females
and 276 males admitted for
self-inflicted injuries. These
numbers exclude poisoning
admissions and therefore
reflect the more violent self-
inflicted injuries.

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR
SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES
BY AGE AND SEX
MAINE. 1988 - 1991

NUMBER OF AOMlSSlOSS. 19SC“1991
200 300 ^00

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WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT ASSAULT
INJURIES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE?

Hospital discharge data only illustrate what is known about injuries
from assault that were serious enough to require hospital admission.
We do not have data to describe assaultive injures that are treated in
an emergency room or a physician's office, or are left untreated.

Violence seems to occur more frequently among adolescent
pregnant women (under 19) than among older pregnant women. In a
recent one year period, eighteen percent of Maine's adolescent mothers
reported being physically hurt by their partner or being in a physical
fight during the 12 months before their baby was born; while 5% of
older mothers reported being hurt. Of the adolescents experiencing
physical violence, 47% were in a physical fight and 13% were injured
by their partner.

iCS= "A. ADViSSONS FOR ASSA^.T BY AGE A\Q SEX
VA‘\“, 1953---991

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□ AGE <5

■ AGE 5- 1 4

□ AGE 15-19

□ AGE 20-24

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From 1 980 to 1 992, the rate of arrest for juvenile crimes has
increased.

Violent crimes include: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter;
manslaughter by negligence; forcible rape; robbery and aggravated
assault. The number of male arrests was substantially higher than
female arrests.

Rate of Juvenile Arrests for Violent Crimes

This graph illustrates the rate of arrests per 1 00,000 population
calculated separately for males and females. The total arrest rate is
based on both male and female arrests per total male/female
population.

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WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT HATE VIOLENCE IN MAINE?

Prior to 1992 there was no formal documentation of violence as the
result of prejudice in Maine. In response to a Federal mandate charging
states to collect data on crimes "motivated by religious, ethnic, racial
or sexually-oriented prejudice," beginning in 1992, Uniform Crime
Report arrest data will include the incidence of arrests for hate crimes.
(S.P. 425 - LD. 1334)

Attorneys in the Maine Attorney
General's Office have begun to
address the commission of hate
crimes. From October 1992 to
October 1993 their staff investi-
gated 226 complaints. In these
cases, many of the offenders
were young males acting against
other young males on or near
school grounds. The victims in
about 39% of these crimes were
African Americans; 25% were
homosexuals; and 9% were
Jewish.

WHAT IS IKE NATURE OF HATE VIOLENCE iN MAINE?

226 COMPLAINTS ABOUT HATE VIOLENCE INVESTIGATED
BY STAFF OF THE STATE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.

OFFJCE OF DATA. RESEARCH. AND V-TA. STATISTICS
HATC Os 1J-C09 cart "ESKUAir^ 7.IM4

Seventeen enforcement actions were brought to court by the
Attorney General's Office during this one year period in Maine. By
comparison, each year in Massachusetts, which has a full-time civil
rights division, approximately 15-18 enforcement actions are taken to
court.

o < »

In -

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

ttv ji. V J.i SIN Id'-

THERE ARE LITTLE DATA AVAILABLE ON THE
INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN MAINE

Out of 84 arrests for rape in 1989,

1 5.5% of the offenders were under
age 18 and 33.3% were between the

The Uniform Crime Reports
collects arrest, not conviction,
data. Many rapes are thought
to go unreported. A review of
juvenile rape arrest data shows
an average of 1 1 juveniles
arrested per year, a rate
increase of 28% in the four
year period of 1989 - 1992 as
compared to the four year
period from 1 980 - 1 983.

1 Data collected by the rape crisis
j centers from rape victims in the State
j documented 1,861 reported incidents
j of rape in 1990 and 2,655 reported
' incidents of rape in 1991, an increase
' of about 30%.

1990 ‘ 5 ?^

ages of 1 8 - 24.

WHAT IS THE PERCENT OF YOJTHS
among perpetrators Or. sexual VlO-ENCi?

N=84 arrests for RAPE IN 1989

A study on juvenile sex offenders in Maine was conducted by the
Children's Policy Committee of the Interdepartmental Council in 1989.
Eighty-nine percent, or 308 offenders were males, with a median age
of fourteen. Eleven percent, or forty offenders were females, with a
median age of eleven. The data revealed males and females between
three and ten years old were proportionately the largest group of
victims. The most frequent age of victimization for boys was eight,
whereas for girls it was five years old.

Only one percent of the offenders were strangers to their victims. The
relaticnsnips between victims and offenders are described below.

Relationship to Victim

(N=341)

Based on a survey of young sex offenders on Department of Human Services,
Probation and Parole, and Maine Youth Center caseloads between
July 1988 and June 1989.

24

ARREST DATA PROVIDE ONLY A SMALL PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE OF YOUTH VIOLENCE IN MAIN£

Juvenile arrest data show an average of 89 arrests annually for
aggravated assault from 1980 to 1992. According to Uniform Crime
Report data, the number of juvenile arrests for rape increased from 7 to
23, aggravated assaults from 78 to 98, other assaults from 479 to
1116, and weapons charges from 30 to 66.

JUVENILE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ARRESTS
(1980-1992)

120

TOTAL AGO ^AVATZ D ASSAULT ARRc ST S

An Aggravated assault is an attempt or offer, with unlawful force or violence, to do physical injury to another. This
type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or other means likely to produce death or serious bodily
injury. Attempts are included since it is not necessary that an injury result when a gun, knife, or other weapon is used
which could and probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime is successfully completed. Assaults with
personal weapons (hands, feet, fists) are scored as aggravated if there is personal injury requiring more than simple
first aid to treat.

Some police departments keep statistics on serious habitual
offenders. Portland police data show that a small number of juveniles
commit a large number of all juvenile crimes. In Portland, the average
serious habitual offender has been arrested a dozen times.

We do not know the percent of arrests where substance use or
abuse was a factor. We do not know the age and gender of the
victims of youth violence in Maine. We do not know what precipitated
these violent crimes, or how many arrests were of repeat offenders.
The data tell us nothing about the risk factors experienced by the
youth who were arrested.

oi-

21

BEST copy AWIMBLE

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT YOUTH RISK
TAKING BEHAVIOR?

The Institute for the Study of High Risk Students at the University of
Maine recently surveyed teachers of kindergarten through second grade
regarding their perceptions of the most unusual behaviors of students
in their classes. In response, seven of ten teachers described
aggressive and violent behaviors towards peers, without apparent
remorse.^’

A survey of 2422 Maine high school students was conducted in
1993 by the Department of Education in cooperation with the U.S.
Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The
purpose of this survey was to collect information directly from youth
about certain risk taking behaviors. The results of particular relevance
to violence follow.

HOW V,A\Y HiGH SCHOOL STUOr MS ENGAGE
IN VIOLENCE-RELATED BEHAVIORS?

PERCENT OF RESPONDEN'S
0 10 20 30 ^0 50

o

>

<

r

>-

yi: CAL "RiATMEs: FOR S>.ICjDE
ATTEVPT in last year

CFFEREO/SCLD/GiVES DR^GS AT
SC'iOOL IN ..AST YEAR

VEO'CAL TREATMENT FOR FIGHT
injur:ES (N las’ year

iREatlned w/wea=»on at
SChCOu in last year

DRAS< A.CO^^CL AT

sc~ccl s wAs: von’h

IN PH^SICA.. FIGHT
W/SOMEONE TriEY KNOW

!\ A PHYS;CAL FlGHT

w/fav:ly member

IN A Pn^S CAL FlGHT
.N LAST YEAR

CCSS'DERED SUiC DE
IN LAST year

A''TEM3’E0 SviCOE
IN LAST ^EAR

CARRIED A WEAPON
IN LAST MONTH

DRANK A.CO^CL
'N -AS' MCN’H

CARR. ED A GUN
IN LAST MONTH

R-NKS -N A RCW
N .AS’ VCS"“

50

N :.^22 c- b:.-.:cL :■

SC-RCL ;rp- cs as.? .j

''Cv*- gr^^AV c=<

n-XI Cws

V* s' Jl-*C ’.V ,s Sr RV crs
:i c" da*a. asj ^ *a. s^a* s^'CS

>C.

V(Ci.lNCl i^ELATED behavior

Many high school age
youth were not included in
the CDC study because they
do not attend school. The
Survey Research Center of
the Muskie Institute at the
University of Southern Maine
was contracted by the DMCH
to survey 200 of these youth.
Youth from alternative schools,
shelters, detention facilities,
non-school job training, street
programs, rehabilitation
programs, and pregnant and
parenting teen programs were
polled.

W-AT iS THE COMPARISON' 0"
ViC_E\CE RELATED BEHAVIOR AMONG
IN-SC-tOOL AND NOT-IN-SCHOOL ^OuTH?

PERCENT OF RES^CsDiS'S

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

i 1 i i ^ : \ !

ccw»«Mt ct • 1 cr* rws

WA sr, c' ^..vas Sl*?v cls
O^TlCt or DATA. '^CSrA'^C-, *S? v 'Ai. S'AT'ST'CS

HOW MANY OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH
ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE-RELATED BEHAVIOR?

PERCENT CF respondents

(r

o

>

<

X

u

m

lx.

o

Uf

IN PHYS'CAL FIGHT IN LAST YEAR

IN PHYSICAL FIGHT
W/SOMEONE KNOWN

IN Physical fight w/boy
girlfriend

IN PHYSICAL FIGHT
W/FAMILY MEMBER

CARRIED A WEAPON
IN LAST MONTH

CARRIED A GUN
IN LAST MONTH

MEDICAL treatment FOR
INJURIES IN LAST YEAR

CONSIDERED SUICIDE
IN LAST YEAR

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
IN LAST YEAR

MEDICAL treatment FOR SUICIDE
ATTEMPT IN LAST YEAR

DRANK ALCOHOL IN
LAST MONTH

5+ ORINKS IN A
ROW IN LAST MONTH

from alte.rnative schools, shelters, detention facilities, job

TRAINING PROGRAMS. STREET PROGRAMS. REHAB PROGRAMS, PREGNANT k PARENTING TEEN PROGRAMS.

SOURCEiUSU MUS<iE INSTITUTE. 1993

KOSChL CN CwS

main: dept of human services
office of data, research, and vital statistics

rCfluuAirv to. iisa

A comparison of the responses
of in-schooI and out-of-school
youth revealed more reported
violent behavior among males
and females who are not in
school.

WHAT DO HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH SAY ABOUT VIOLENCE

AMONG THEIR PEERS?

A small sample (1 57) of students from two central Maine high
schools were surveyed, using a revised version of the Muskie Institute
survey. While we cannot make generalizations for all youth in the state
on such a small sample, a brief summary of the results follows.

The students were asked to indicate behaviors they had personally
seen or known about from a list. Almost all of the students reported
seeing or knowing of behaviors that threatened physical harm.
Seventy-four percent knew of hatred of people who are different; 53%
reported knowing of weapon carrying; 40% knew of suicides or
attempted suicides; and 27% knew of gang or group fighting.

The most important reasons given for violent behaviors follow;
Seventy-six percent of students stated that violent behavior comes
from hanging out with the wrong friends; 76% said it comes from use
of drugs; 73% said happens because parents don't care; 72% blamed
use of alcohol; and 64% stated that violent behavior occurs because
people hate people who are different.

WHAT ABOUT YOUTH RESIDING AT THE MAINE YOUTH

CENTER?

In 1993, 179 Maine Youth Center residents were surveyed. Thirty-
one percent reported that they were in the custody of Department of
Human Services. They reported that they first began to get into
trouble in school in grades 4, 5 and 6; and that, on average, most
dropped out of school in the 8th and 9th grades. They reported
beginning to enjoy 'doing criminal things' between the ages of 9-12
and that their first trouble with the police was between ages 11-13.

HOW DO PROFESSIONALS VIEW VIOLENCE
AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS?

Professionals Survey

Through a contractual agreement between the DMCH and the
Muskie Institute of University of Southern Maine, a mailed survey was
distributed to school personnel, health educators, physicians, civil
rights officers in local police departments, prosecuting attorneys,
juvenile corrections personnel, municipal recreation directors, child
abuse councils, religious organizations, treatment centers and
residential group homes for troubled youth, and others who work with
children and youth. Five hundred and forty-two professionals
responded. Only two percent of respondents indicated that they were
not aware of any violent behavior among children and teens in their
communities. More than sixty percent reported that violence is a
severe or very severe problem in their community.

W.-AT PRCB_EVS DO PROFESSIONALS SEE
:\ "HE.R COMMUNITIES?

percent of respondents

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

V OLENCE A =RC3lEV
IN C"--:R =A3TS
C" VAI.NE

VIOLENCE A SEVERE
PR03-EN N OWN
CCVVL.'M'P'

- NOT AWARE C“ A
E VIOLENCE 3RC3LEW
2 IN ccvvjNirr

r . 5 : FlGnTS
A =R03LEW

INTCi^ERANCE OF
DJFrESENCES
A 3R09LEV

SJICIDE.
SELF-VlTILATION
A 3RC9LEM

61

76

48

R:

^^ES OF V:C-E\T 8EHAV
VERBAL “ARASSVE\“
AGGRESS.VE 3EhAV.CR
"’■’TREATS Cr =n''SICAL -ARV

FACTORS FOSTERING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR;
ABUSE/VIOLENCE IN HOME
DRUG/ALCCHOL USE
LACK OF PARENTAL SUPERVISION
TV k MASS M’ *>IA
LOW SELF“ES.E.:m
POOR parenting SKiLLS
LACK Or ROLE MODELS

N-542 SC-CC. ^ERSCSSE, . r-EA.TH EDUCATORS. PHYSIC ANS. POLICE OFFICERS.
PROSECv,' SG ATTORN £S. CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL. CnlLD A3USE COUNCILS.
RE.G.CUS 3C: ES. TREa"VES' CENTERS, GROUP HOMES FOR TROUBLED YOUTH. ETC.

USM v.s< L ‘552 VA OF HUMAN SERViCtS

OF-ICE or DATA. RESEARCH. ANO VITAL STATISTICS
’■ics.tuj OS «o. »ii4

o

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- 25 - 29

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

More violent behaviors were reported in urban than in rural areas,
although all types of violent and aggressive behaviors were reported in
urban, suburban and rural areas.

Respondents were asked to identify what they felt were the most
important factors in fostering violent behavior in youth. Consistent
with the literature, factors mentioned most often were: abusive or
violent home environment, drug and/or alcohol use, lack of parental
supervision, TV and other media, low self-esteem, poor parenting skills,
and lack of appropriate role models.

® 1 990, Illustration by Bonnie Aker

- O

30

IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS

Extensive interviews were conducted by the Margaret Chase Smith
Institute of the University of Maine. Twenty-six Maine professionals
from law enforcement, mental health, medicine, education, juvenile
corrections, probation and parole, foster care, sexual assault crisis
intervention centers, group homes, homeless programs and family
counseling programs participated. These interviewees interact with
youth and families on a daily basis and are intimately acquainted with
interpersonal and self-inflicted violence among youth. They were asked
to describe violent youth behaviors, contributing factors, individual and
community impact, and strategies for intervention and prevention.

The following summarizes the strongest patterns in the interviewees'
responses. There were many points of agreement among all twenty-six
interviewees. They felt that the incidence of "random" violence in the
State is still low, but that the incidence of family-centered, domestic
and sexual violence is high. This concern was noted because exposure
to family violence increases the likelihood that youth will turn to
interpersonal and self-inflicted violence.

There was a general sense that the problem of self-inflicted and
interpersonal youth violence in Maine is becoming more serious in
terms of frequency and severity. The interviewees observed that many
of today's youth seem to have a greater tendency to quickly resort to
violence. Interviewees reported observing more verbal violence,
emotional violence (taunting, threatening, hatefulness toward
vulnerable groups), and physical violence. They also felt that youth are
displaying violence at earlier ages than in the past and that it often
results in more serious injuries. "Juvenile crime has always existed,
but today's youths have less parental supervision, are more violent and
have better access to weapons. Soaping windows and stealing
hubcaps have given way to armed robbery and aggravated assault.
What were cuts and bruises 10 years ago are gunshot and knife
wounds today."

No one factor was described as the single cause of youth turning to
self-inflicted or interpersonal violence. Interviewees suggested that
youth exposure to or experience of one or more factors may lead to

- 27-31

violence. As stated by one interviewee - "If you add chemical abuse
and a low maturity level together you may have violence. If you add a
weapon to the Scenario then you have a potentially deadly
combination. Add the perpetrator who was a victim of violence him or
herself, a mental health problem or learning disability of some sort. ..It
doesn't take much to make the right combination."

Violence cuts across income-level, age, ethnicity, and geographic
location. Many noted that certain factors increase the likelihood of
youth resorting to interpersonal or self-inflicted violence. However,
they also noted that to some extent all youth are exposed to or
experience the factors that are known to contribute to the development
of violent behavior such as child abuse, domestic violence, media
violence, substance abuse in the home, youth alcohol and/or other
substance use, and mental health disorders. They emphasized that the
more isolated, helpless or hopeless a youth feels, the greater the
chances he/she will resort to violence.

Violence among the State's youth appears to be moving from an
individual to a group violence problem. For example, in public schools,
fights that used to be between two students now evolve into a series
of fights between friends and/or allies of the original students.

A lack of understanding about gang activity in Maine was noted by
interviewees. Based on their professional experience, only three
interviewees were able to comment on gang activity among youth.

One individual noted that the media perpetuates a false stereotype of
gangs; he cited a recent study by The National Institute of Justice
which indicated that 37% of gangs are 'fighting gangs.' Fighting
gangs practice assaultive behavior, use few or no drugs, and commit
property crimes for pocket change. It was noted that police from
southern and central Maine have observed this type of gang behavior.
Law enforcement, education, and the social service system need to
work together to prevent gang activity from developing in communities
throughout the state.

Professionals confirmed that little is known about cult activity in the
State. "The State has to acknowledge that Satanism may be an
issue...". "As a police officer I hear about it as a topic more often. It
seems to surface more in a rural context." There were no known

3

- 28 -

o

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cases of actual cults in Maine. It was felt that some youth may use
the language without truly practicing formalized ritualistic cult
behaviors.

Societal attitudes toward violence and its victims foster the
perpetuation of youth violence. There is both acceptance and
encouragement of violence as a means of solving problems and of
achieving success in American culture. Through the media, violence is
glamorized and at times magnified to provide an inaccurate picture of
violence in our world.

The acceptance of differences among people is not encouraged.
"Celebrate everybody. We allow children not to appreciate people for
who they are and what they are... Teach kids that disagreeing with
someone's ideas does not mean that you cannot accept them as
people."

Today's youth are lacking in skills that would help them avoid
violence. Low self-esteem was described by nearly every interviewee
as a major contributor to the violent behavior of youth. The
interviewees also noted that youth lack conflict resolution skills, don't
know how to manage their feelings, and generally lack positive
interpersonal skills.

Witnessing and experiencing violence influences children's
perception of these behaviors. Both through the media and in their
immediate life experiences, children observe large amounts of real and
perceived violence. This contributes to violent behavior by normalizing
it; to some extent, youth become less sensitive to violence. Many
youth learn violence from their home environment. If a parent is
violent, children learn that this is the way to behave.

Parents who feel worthless, disconnected, helpless or hopeless tend
to raise children who feel the same. It was noted that many parents
lack positive and effective interpersonal skills. People with poor
interpersonal skills have limited alternatives for managing their
emotions, solving problems, or settling conflicts. This increases the
likelihood that their children also will lack these interpersonal skills.

- 29 -

Youth who use chemical substances are more likely to turn to
violence. Alcohol and drug use among youth are seen as contributing
both directly and indirectly to the problem of violence. Youth are often
under the influence of a chemical substance at the time of a violent
offense. Interviewees observed that, in their experience, youth who
use alcohol are more likely to act violently than those who do not.

As a society we do not recognize the contributions youth can make
to improving the quality of life for themselves and their communities.

Children have no political power. They are often left out of decision-
making processes; their voices are seldom heard. Unless there is a
problem, most children go unnoticed. "Few, if any, programs and/or
agencies have done enough in involving youth. There is a tendency on
the part of adults to think that they have all the answers and to treat
youth as passive consumers." Many youth have too much 'empty
time' with few options for constructive and meaningful ways to spend
it. Several interviewees expressed discouragement with the lack of
activities in the community in which youth could participate. "Children
are not offered meaningful opportunities at young ages and their input
has not been valued. ..kids seldom feel meaning in their lives and
violence is a meaningful experience."

A diminished sense of community means more isolation for youth.

As a society striving for individualism we have become isolated and
independent of each other. According to the interviewees, this has
allowed the problem of violence to grow by creating a society lacking
in shared values and support systems. Besides not having clear
guidance about how to behave, youth become disconnected and
detached. This detachment can lead to a decreased sense of respect
for the self and others. This lack of respect makes it easier for youth
to hurt themselves and other people.

Resources (time, money, and human energy) are being utilized to
react to this problem rather than to implement prevention programs
which could help children to reach their full potential.

Interviewees stressed that much of society's resources, including their
organization's resources, go toward managing or intervening after
violence has occurred. "We are losing a tremendous resource by
letting these kids fall through the cracks..." "Teachers are forced to

spend too much time dealing with this issue rather than educating.”

There were strong patterns of agreement about prevention. There
was consensus that a great deal is already known about how to
effectively address this issue. We have learned much from other public
health efforts, for example, smoking cessation, drinking and driving and
the prevention of teen pregnancy. Responses indicated a belief that
significant community support for prevention already exists, and what
is lacking is coordination of efforts and resources. "The most urgent
matter is redirecting policy. I believe policy needs to be set at the
State and Federal levels."

Although prevention stood out as the preferred direction, there was
a definite feeling of urgency concerning intervention with youth already
behaving violently. Throughout the interviews it was apparent that the
complexity of this issue called for strategies on a variety of levels -
individual, family, school, church and the broader community. "We
have to find new ways to integrate our efforts. Often we work with
the same families and we're totally disconnected."

A strong recommendation to gear prevention strategies toward all
youth was expressed because all youth are potentially at risk of turning
to interpersonal or self-inflicted violence. Professionals described the
inherent difficulty in implementing programs of prevention and
intervention oriented toward youth determined "at highest risk"
because;

■ Youth and families are unique; a precipitating factor in one family
may not be a precipitating factor in another family.

■ It is not always known when and to what extent a risk factor
exists in the home or elsewhere in a young person's life.

■ Youth who have not been identified, because they have not yet
acted out, will not benefit from targeted interventions.

■ Targeted interventions emphasize and perpetuate a fragmented
service delivery system rather than enhancing collaborative
solutions.

3'o

31

■ It may be too late for youth finally identified as 'highest risk'; they
may be dead, locked into a cycle of truancy, have seriously
impaired mental health, or have taken the life or jeopardized the
well-being of another - the damage may be irreparable.

While the lack of resources presents a challenge to addressing the
issue of youth violence, interviewees believed that the problem goes
beyond funding. Because we are committed to traditional ways of
doing things, ways that do not consider the input of youth or that
concentrate on intervention alone rather than including prevention, we
are not making progress. The most frequently mentioned challenges to
reducing youth violence were described as:

■ A general lack of knowledge or awareness about the problem;

■ A general denial of the problem by all types of people;

■ The unwillingness of individuals to see the problem as their
responsibility;

■ The resistance of the community;

■ Existing laws and policies that inhibit professionals from truly
helping youth;

■ The misunderstanding held by many that the problem can be
remedied with short-term solutions;

■ Kids who have been severely abused for so long that they are
hard to reach.

Regarding causes and strategies, it is worthwhile to note that the
interview data were consistent with the information found in the
literature. Maine professionals advocate approaches for prevention and
intervention that are similar to current initiatives across the country.
The interviewees expressed their long term support for the Division's
work in this area and were willing to be solicited for further assistance.

- 32 -

FOOTNOTES

1 . Kids Count Data Book. Annie E. Casey Foundation, 1 993.

2. Bureau of the Census, Population Survey Report for the Nation and New England 1981 and
1991.

3. State of Maine Vital Statistics Data

4. Osofsky, J. D. and Fenichel, E (Eds). Caring for Infants and Toddlers in Violent
Environments . Hurt. Flealina and Flooe. Zero to Three Study Group on Violence with the
National Center for Clinical Infant Program, 1994.

5. Wilson-Brewer, Renee, et. al., "Violence Prevention for Young Adolescents; A Survey of
the State of the Art", Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development Working Papers,
September 1991.

6. American Psychological Association, Violence and Youth: Psychology's Response, Volume
I: Summary Report of the America Psychological Association Commission on Violence and
Youth. 1993.

7. Prothrow-Stith, Deborah, Deadly Consequences. Harper-Collins, Publisher, 1 991 .

8. Calhoun, J. A. Youth Violence and a Wav Out . National Crime Prevention Council,
Washington, D. C., 1988.

9. Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. Facts About Children and Handguns. Washington, D.
C., 1991.

10. Valenti, Clorinda, Today's Lesson: Violence. New York School Boards, 1993.

1 1 . Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice of the Committee of the Judiciary
United States Senate. Media Violence . Washington, D. C., Government Printing Office.

12. Children's Defense Fund. Statistics on Youth and Violence Fact Sheet. Washington, D. C.,
1993

13. Hicks, Barbara Barrett, Youth Suicide: A Comprehensive Manual for Prevention and
Intervention . National Educational Services, Indiana, 1 990,

14. "NAEYC Position Statement on Violence in the Lives of Children" , Young Children,
September, 1993,

15. Hechinger, Fred. Fateful Choices. Healthy Youth for the 21st Century. Carnegie Council on
Adolescent Development, 1992.

16. "Children and Violence", Report of the 23rd Ross Roundtable on Critical Approaches to
Common Pediatric Problems, 1992.

17. Bijiefeld, Marjolijn, "Youth Violence Crescendos Again", Youth Today . November/December,
1993.

3

i

- 33 -

Dryfus, Joy. Adolescents at Risk . Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford, 1 990.

Bailin, Michael J. D. "Attributes of Successful Programs for Adolescents that Work",
Strengths and Potentials of Adolescent Proceeding, Symposium. New York Academy of
Medicine. Vol. 67, #6, November/December, 1991.

Hawkins, J. David and Catlano, Richard, et. al. Communities That Care. Jossey-Bass, San
Francisco, 1992.

Davis, William E., Institute for the Study of At-Risk Students, University of Maine, Private
Correspondence, December 1993.

APPENDIX

3'J

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LEADING CAUSES

OF CHILD (AGE 0 - 19)
INJURY DEATH - MAINE

1984 - 1988 NUMBER

PER

1. MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT 151

2. FIRES 52

3. FIREARMS 43

(7 accidental, 34 suicides, 2 homicides)

4. PEDESTRIAN 39

5. DROWNING 30

6. SUICIDE (EXCLUDING FIREARMS) 28

1989 - 1992

1. MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT 156

2. FIREARMS 55

(7 accidental, 40 suicides, 8 homicides)

3. FIRES 27

4. DROWNING 20

5. SUICIDES (EXCLUDING FIREARMS) 18

6. PEDESTRIAN 15

TOTAL 1984 - 1992

1. MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT 307

2. FIREARMS 98

(14 accidental, '^4 suicides, 10 homicides)

3. FIRES 79

4. PEDESTRIAN 54

5. DROWNING 50

6. SUICIDE (EXCLUDING FIREARMS) ■ 46

4U

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AVERAGE

YEAR

30

10

9

8

6

6

39

14

7

5

5

4

34

11

9

6

6

5

APPROVED

CHAPTER

JUN 7'93

?.2

BY GOVERyjB

RESOLVES

STATE OF MAINE

IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE

H.P. 927 - L.D. 1250

Resolve, Directing the Bureau of Health to Study the
Problem of Violence among Children, Teens and Young Adults

Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature
do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless
enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, injuries are the 5th leading cause of death in Maine
and the leading cause of death for residents under 35 years of
age; and

Whereas, suicide and homicide represent about 1/3 of total
injury deaths; and

Whereas, during 1989 and 1990 in Maine, male assaults on
females accounted for 75% of the total number of assaults and
another 6% were assaults on children by parents; and

Whereas, during 1989, of
substantiated victims of abuse, 48
and 541 had minor physical injuries;

2,257 children who were
had major physical injuries
and

Whereas, it is known that children growing
families may exhibit aggressive, disruptive
siblings and schoolmates, delinquency and violence;

up in violent
behavior with
and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of
Maine and require the following legislation as immediately
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and
safety; now, therefore, be it

1-1295(3)

- % - 41

Sec. 1. Study to identify extent of violence among children. Resolved: That

the Department of Human Services/ Bureau of Health, Division of
Maternal and Child Health shall study available data to identify
the extent of the problem of violence among children, teens and
young, adults in the State. The Division of Maternal and Child
Health shall collaborate with the Department of Corrections, the
Office of Substance Abuse and the Bureau of Children with Special
Needs in conducting this study. In addition to identifying the
problem, the study must assess the need for further steps,
including any legislation necessary, and make recommendations
that would reduce the incidence and impact of violence among
those at highest risk in a report to the Joint Standing Committee
on Human Resources and the Executive Director of the Legislative
Council by November 1, 1993.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

cited in the

2-1295(3)

- 37 -

OTHER MAINE STUDIES

Righthand, Ph.D., Sue, Young Sex Offenders in Maine . Committee on Child Sex Abuse
Research Task Force, September 1989.

Juvenile Co’ ' "ction in Maine: An Action Plan for the 1990's . Juvenile Correction
Planning Commission, March 1989.

Olney, Ph.D., Rachel, Self-Destructive Behaviors and Teen Suicide . Child & Adolescent
Service System Project, March 1986.

Parker, Susan B., Report of the Commissioner's Task Force on Self-Destructive
Behaviors and Teen Suicide . Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation,
December 1987.

Report of The Juvenile Justice Subcommittee . Childrens' Policy Committee, August
1988.

Report of Maine Committee on Primary Prevention . Committee on Primary Prevention,
January 1989.

Clary, Bruce B., Ph.D., and Olney, Rachel, Ph.D., Mental Health and Other
Characteristics of Homeless Adolescents: A Descriptive Analysis of Multi-agency
Case Records. Portland Area Homeless Children's Mental Health Project.

Female Offenders: An Afterthought. Task Force on Female Offenders, January 1 991 .

Hart, Suzanne K., A1 Leighton, Mark Richards and Louise Olsen, Violence Among
Children and Teenagers in Maine: Professionals View Violence Prevention, Edumund
S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs, December 1993.

Maine's Common Core of Learning: An Investment in Maine's Future. Commission on
Maine's Common Core of Learning, July 1990.

O

ERIC

18 -

43

® 1 987, Illustration by Bonnie Aker

Study Funded by MCH Block Grant

015-10A-2006

015-10A-2106

John H. McKernan, Jr
Governor

■ ;*

r. • ‘f.

Jane Sheehan
Commissioner

\*

In accordance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Civil Rights Restofation
Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. §1981, 2000e et seq.). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of *1973, as
amended (29 U.S. §794), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42U.S.C. §6101 etseq.),
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.) and Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, the Maine Department of Human Services does not discriminate on
the basis of sex. race, color, national origin, disability or age in admission or access to or treatment or
employment in its programs and activities. -

Ann Twombly, Affirmative Action Coordinator, has been designated to coordinate our efforts to comply
with the U.S. Department of Health and Human services regulations (45 C.F.R. Parts 80, 84, and 91)
and the U.S. Department of Education regulations (34 C.F.R. , Part 106) implementing these Federal
laws. Inquiries concerning the application of these regulations and our grievance procedures for
resolution of complaints alleging discrimination may be referred to Ann Twombly at 221 State Street.
Augusta. ME 04333, Telephone number: (207) 287-*3488 (Voice) or 1-800-332-1003 (TDD), or the
Assistant Secretary of the Office of Civil Rights. Washington. D.C.

44